Neck ring



Sept. 11, 1923. 1,4676% c. E." MC MURPHY NECK RING Filed June 12, 192

Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

ten

CRAWFORD E. MGMURPHY, OF FAIRFAX, MISSOURI.

NECK RING.

Application filed June 12, 1922. Serial No. 567,760.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CRAWFORD E. Mo- MURPHY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Fairfax, in the county of Atchison and State of Missouri, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Neck Rings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in neck rings of the type disclosed in my co pending application Number 555,661 for nest boxes, with which latter and with other'similar nest boxes it is particularly intended for use whereby the laying activities of hens may be recorded, my present purpose being to provide a collapsible neck ring of cheap, simple and durable construction whlch in one position permits a hen to insert her head and neck therein freely and in another position becomes positively looked upon the hens neck whereby its accidental loss is prevented.

With the foregoing general purpose in view my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as'will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved neck ring showing the position of the same when engaged with a holdi'ng'clip prior to its engagement upon a hens neck;

Figure 2, an elevation of my improved neck ring showing the same in the collapsed position it assumes upon a hens neck;

Figure 3, a perspective showing the de tails of the locking device; and

Figure 4-, a perspective showing the details of a preferred form of clip.

As is understood a number of my improved neck rings 10 are adapted to be suspended by means of clips 11 in such position with respect to the exit of a nest box that hens successively leaving the box insert their heads through individual rings and carry the same off with them, whereby it may readily be determined which particular hens of a flock actually enter the nest box, and in a predetermined manner which hens that enter the boX actually deposit an therein. My present improvements,

however, are directed solely to the construction of a new and beneficial neck ring and therefore a detailed description of the manner of using the same is deemed unneces sary, particularly, in view of my copending application previously referred to and other inventions similar in nature to the one disclosed therein.

Now, by particular reference to the accompanying drawings it will be observed that my improved neck ring 10 consists essentially of a pair of arms 12, 12 which are of duplicate form and adapted to be connected to form the complete device. These arms are formed of light, stiff wire or other suitable material and each of them includes a bowed intermediate portion 13 which terminates at one end in a straight portion 14: having preferably a terminal loop 15, and at its other end in preferably a straight portion 16 to which is attached in any 'p re ferred manner a. pivot plate 17. The two arms thus constituted are connected together for relative swinging movement by a pivot pin 18 passing through the overlapping plates 17 and a suitable spring 19 is associated with said pin and plates in such manner that the free ends of the arms normallyare urged in crossed relation and the space between the relatively outwardly bowed arms contracted as shown in Fig. 2.

The arms 12, 12 may be formed into any desired shape, but preferably have the configuration shown, and one'of them has secured to the bowed portion thereof in any suitable manner a stop plate 20 which is wider than the arm and provided in its end facing the free end of the arm with a V- shaped notch 21 for the purpose of receiving the bowed portion of the other arm and thereby limiting the relative pivotal movement of both arms under the influence of the spring 19, the notch serving to hold said arms together and overcoming any tendency of the same to spread apart laterally when in their relative crossed position, and also serving to direct said arms together as they are moved by the spring 19 in the event they may tend to spread apart when the neck ring is becoming engaged with a hens neck. Secured to the plate 20 or to the arm 12 carrying said plate or to both remote from the notch 21 is a pair of devices 22, 22 for locking the two arms 12, 12 against relvices 22 will first be forced outward andv then because of its inherent resiliency will spring back into its normal position with its hooked end obstructing reverse movement of the arms of the ring whereby the latter is prevented from becoming accidentally lost from a hens neck and may only be removed therefrom by an attendant.

In the use of my device a clip 11 having channeled sides is inserted between the straight end portions 14 of the arms 12, 12 after the same have been expanded as shown in Figure 1 and the frictional engagement of said straight portions with the clip holds the parts of the device in this position until a hen inserts her head through the ring and by pressure of her body against the arms withdraws the ring from the clip, whereupon the arms are moved by the spring 19' into crossed contracted relation and become locked upon her neck by reason of the plates 20 and one or the other of the locking devices 22, depending upon whether one arm 12 crosses to the front or rear of the other arm.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of my improved neck ring will be fully understood, and while I have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention it is apparent that various minor changes and desirable additions may be made in and to the same without departing from its spirit or scope as set forth in the appended claims and it is therefore desired that the latter be construed in this light.

I claim 1. The combination with a supporting clip, of a neck ring including a pair of pivotally connected normally contracted arms adapted to be spread apart and releasably engaged with said clip.

The vcombination with a supporting clip having channeled sides, of a normally contracted neck ring adapted to be expanded and releasably engaged with said clip, said ring including a pair of straight portions engageable, respectively, in the channeled sides of the clip.

3. A neck ring including a pair of relatively expansible and contractible arms, a member secured to one arm effective to limit movement of the other arm in one direction with respect thereto, said member having a notch forming a guide and seat for the other arm, and an inherently resilient member having a hooked terminal disposed in advance of the notched end of said guide member to limit relative movement of said arms in a reverse direction.

4. A neck ring for use with nest boxes including a pair of arms which are relatively expansible and contractible, a plate secured to one of said arms to limit movement of the other arm inone direction with respect thereto, said plate having a V-notch forming a guide and seat for the other arm, and a pair of inherently resilient members having hooked terminals disposed in advance of the notched end of said plate to limit relative movement of said arms in a reverse direction.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

CRAl/VFORD E. MoMURPI-IY. 

